Culinary implement



April 2, 1946. H DLE +A 2,397,665

CULINARY IMPLEMENT Filed Juhe 13, 1945 g7 MJEZWJEWZZQ Florence M'JLOZSand Patented Apr. 2, 1946 CULINARY IMPLEBIENT Alfred Edward Hindle,Prescott, and Florence Nichols, Wickenburg, Ariz.

Application June 13, 1945, Serial No. 599,246

5 Claims. (01. 294 -8) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in culinary implements and more particularly to a device tobe used in turning articles of food, such as pancakes, eggs, fish andother substantiall fiat articles while the same is being cooked.

More specifically the invention embodies a device of this characterincluding a flat blade together With a plate recessed in the center ofthe blade and pivotally attached adjacent one side edge of the bladetogether with means forswinging the plate upwardly for turning thearticle of food positioned thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide operating means for theturning plate carried by the handle of the device.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is eflicient and reliable inuse, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adaptedfor the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken substantially on a line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration We have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates a flat blade having downturned flanges 6 at itssideedges, the flanges tapering toward the front edges of the blade inorder that the blade may slide under a pancake or other article of foodinto a position on the upper surface of the blade.

To the rear edge of the blade 5 is attached a handle I,

The center of the blade '5 is formed with a substantially square shapedopening 8 having a flange 9 along one or more of the edges thereof andrecessed below the upper surface of the blade and adapted to support thefree edges of a plate l positioned in the opening 8 and flush with theupper surface of the blade as will be apparent from an inspection ofFigure 3 of the drawing.

A pin II is positioned in the opening 8 along one side of the blade 5and the adjacent edge of the plate In is rolled around the pin I I asindicated at l2 to provide a hinge structure on which the plate In isswingable upwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 of thedrawing.

To the underside of the plate It is secured a track 13 in which one endof a crank arm I4 is slidably engaged, the crank arm being formed at theouter end of a shaft l5 journaled in a bearing !5 projecting from oneside of the handle I.

The inner end of the shaft I5 is also bent angularly to form a lever I!having a button 18 at its outer end and adapted for engagement by thethumb of a person when grasping the handle I to rotate the shaft I5 in amanner to raise the crank l4 and the free edge of the plate It upwardlyfrom the full line position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing to thedotted line position whereby the article of food positioned on the platewill be inverted or turned.

The plate I0 is returned to its lower position in the opening of theplate 5 by means of a. coil spring I!) mounted on the shaft 5 with oneend 20 engaged under the handle I and with its other end 2 l looped overthe lever I! as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 of thedrawing, the spring thus exerting its tension on the lever I! in adirection to move the plate I ll downwardly into its position flush withthe surface of the blade 5.

The upper surface of the plate I0 is formed with a plurality of recesses22 forming cups under the article of food positioned on the plate andthe rims of which function in preventing the article of food fromsliding on the plate l0 during the raising movement thereof, The cups 22also serve to permit release of moisture at the underside of the articleof food and thus prevent the food from becoming soggy.

It is believed the details of construction, manner of operation andadvantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoingwithout further detailed explanation.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device will be quiteapparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes full; comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 7 1. A culinary implement comprising a blade adapted forsliding under food being cooked, and a plate flush with the surface ofthe blade and pivoted along one edge adjacent one side of the 7 thereof,means pivotally attaching one edggof" the plate adjacent "one edge 0f.the blade, means -for raising the free edge of the plate: to turn the.food, 1an'd means *in thesurface of the plate tendingzto engage an'dretain the i-focd againstsliding :movement during-- the turning thereof.

4. A culinary implement comprising a blade adapted for sliding underfood being cooked, a plate recessed in the blade flush with the surfacethereof, means pivotally attaching one edge of the plate adjacent oneedge of the blade, means for raising the free edge of the plate to turnthe food, and shallow, recesses in the surface of the plate forming cupsat the underside of the food thereon to retain the food against slidingmovement during the turning thereof.

3 '5. Aculina'ry"imp1enie'nt comprising a blade and a handle adapted forsliding the blade under food while cooking, said blade having an opening'z'zat itscentral portion, a plate supported in the ..opening flush withthe surface of the blade, means irpivotallyfattaching one side edge ofthe plate to 'thebla'de; a shaft journaled onthe handle; a

crankat-oneendof the shaft positioned under the plate, a lever at theother end of the shaft 'forrotating the shaft to actuate the crank in adirection. forraising the free edge of the plate, and; spring means formovingthe shaft in a direct-ion-te lower the plate.

ALFRED EDWARD HINDLE.

- FLORENCE NICHOLS.

